USAEC Web Site Reader Response
Standard Operating Procedure
- Reference:
- AR 360-1: Public Affairs
- AR 340-21: The Army Privacy Program
- FM 46-1: Public Affairs Operations
- FM 3-61.1: Public Affairs Tactics, Techniques and Procedures
- DoD Principles of Information
- The following covers the handling of reader responses to articles on the USAEC Web site.
- GENERAL: Responses will be accepted via e-mail, regular mail or online forms. Appropriate comments will be published online following the original article.
- DETERMINING INTENT: Comments to the editor typically fall into two categories: those intended for publication and those intended for publication staff or contributors. Online forms will specifically ask if the respondent wants his or her comments published, and give an opportunity for the withholding of identifying information. It is up to the editor to categorize the message in other cases, asking the respondent if necessary.
- DISCLAIMER: Online submission opportunities (fill-in forms and e-mail links) will be accompanied by this disclaimer: “Comments may be edited for grammar and length. USAEC reserves the right not to publish inappropriate comments. Names, titles and locations will be withheld on request, but anonymous responses will not be published. All responses become property of the U.S. Army on receipt.”
- INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS: Inappropriate comments are obscene, defamatory, profane, libelous, threatening, harassing, or abusive to individuals, USAEC, the Army or DoD. Personal attacks and assertions counter to verifiable fact will not be published. Violations of security privacy policy will be edited or removed, or serve as a reason for not publishing the comment. In keeping with DoD principles of information, the fact that information might embarrass the Army in itself will not prevent its publication. The presentation of that information might be deemed inappropriate (for example, using abusive terms).
- HANDLING: The editor will read the message to determine whether it is intended and appropriate for publication. He or she can, but is not required to, correspond with the author for clarifications or to verify edits. The editor can coordinate with other Army staff to verify information or coordinate a response.
- The editor can correct spelling, make minor grammatical changes, shorten or excerpt from the message as long as the sense of the message remains intact. Standard military information, such as MOS, unit name or installation name will be adjusted to conform with official military documents. The editor will not otherwise change the wording.
- Publishable responses will be sent to the Web manager with appropriate instructions for posting. The Web manager will post the response in a timely manner.